metapbyfical, had he thought fit; for our part, we do not find any of them, with which metaphysics have much to do. But be this as it may, we look upon it as a great mark of Mr. Goldsmith's prudence, that he did neither meddle nor make with them.

THEATRICAL. Art. 21. Electra, a Tragedy. By William Shirley. 4to. 56

Newbery. This tragedy is not altogether deftitute of spirit, poetry, or pathos ; yet there is something wanting towards dramatic perfection, which it is not easy to express. We fee no reason, however, why a licence for representation should have been refused, nor can we discover how that circumstance should justify the Author in fixing such an extraordinary price upon it; though he has annexed to it a performance called the Birth of Hercules, a mak, in honour of the birth of the prince of Wales, Art. 22. The Commisary: A Comedy, in three Aits. As it is per

formed at the Theatre in the Hay-market. By Samuel Foote, Efq; 8vo. IS. 6 d. Vaillant.

The summer subjeĉts, for the year 1765, are, I. Mr. Fungus, whose employment, as an army-commissary, has enabled him to bring home from the wars,' as Mrs. Mecklin says, a whole cart-load of money;' and who, though sprung from a dunghill, is now ambitious of being a gertleman : to which laudable end he employs the dancing-mafter, the fencing master, the music-master, the riding-master, and the profeffor of oratory,--who all furnish their quota towards making their papil compleatly ridiculous. II. Mrs. Loveit; the rich, old, liquorish dowager, from Devonshire Square ;' who wants a young bushand to manage her intricate and weighty affairs. II. Dr. Cat-gut, the musician ; in which character, a celebrated master is highly taken off, as the phrase goes. 1. Mr. Gruel, the orator ;- with various subordinate characters: the whole furnishing a very laughable entertainment: which is all that the cown expects from this modern PROTEUS. Art. 23. The Siege of Calais, a Tragedy. From the French of M. de Belloy, with Historical Notes. Svo.

IS. 6d. Fletcher, &c.

The excesive applause which this piece met with, on its first representation at Paris, and the loud encomiums on its Author, which were refounded over every part of Europe, very naturally excited the curiosity, and raised the expectations of the literati, in regard to its uncommon excellence. It is disadvantageous, however, even to real merit, to entertain too extravagant expečiations of it before it is known; and perhaps it was owing to this latter cause, in a great degree, that the public appeared fo much disappointed, on its being circulated from the press. It would be highly injurious, nevertheless, to the ingenious Author, to {uppose any circumitance could fink his work so low in the opinion of the Reader, as its being viewed through the medium of. Co wretched a translation as that before us,

Exampre.

G 2

Example. Act IV. SCENE VII. HARCOURT, ST. PIERRE, Six Citizens, Officers and Guards, HARCOURT. 10 tbe Officer.' HARCOURT, à l'Officier & aux Gardes. Sir, I have orders from the king, to speak Sortez, braves Guerriers; In private with the pris'ners.

J'ai des ordres secrets pour voir ces prison. [Oficers and Gvards depart.] niers. (L'Officier & les Gardes fortent.] Faithful fons

[ Aux Bourgeois.] Of France, (0 were I worthy of that Français-Ah! de ce nom ne pourrai-je name!)

POETICAL. Art. 24. Bribery; a Poem.

By Thomas Lumley. 4to.

15. 6d. Flexney. Mr. Lumley seems to possess no other qualification for a poetical fa. tirist, than rage; yet, even in this respect, we are afraid he runs rather the wrong

fide of the poft ; and is apt to be a little outrageous.- If, however, he would but moderate his fury, his talents might, at this juncture, perhaps, procure him preferment at court: for it has been whisper'd, as our diurnal politicians have it, that the Scorch bellman of St. James's has fome thoughts of retiring, with his friends.

on

Art. 25. The Death of a Friend, a Poem in Blank Verse. 4to.

6d. Walter, One would suspect this poem to have been written by the Undertaker ; fo regularly does the Author go about the funeral procession. The beli tolls; the psalm is given out; the coffin is 'scutcheon'd; the mourners are arranged, &c. &c. in verse that might be pardonable in a school. boy of the inferior classes.

Art. 26. The Trial for Murder ; or, the Siege of Calais besieged.

Inscribed to Lord and Mons. Belloy. 4to. 28, 60, Moran,

Some anonymous Scribbler, here, abuses one Mr. Dennis*, as the translator of the Siege of Calais ; fee Art. 23. He quotes a number of bad lines from the faid translation; but he gives Mr. Dennis full revenge, by writing worse-much worse, verses, himself. It is the kennel-raker calling the duftman' dirty scoundrel.'

Probably the Author of a volume of fables, see Rev. Vol. X. P. 305; and of several other poetical performances. Also, in conjunction with the late Mr. Lloyd, of a translation of Marmontel's Tales: fee Rev. Vol. XXX. p. 59.

Art. 27. Agriculture and Commerce, a Dialogue, written in Aue tumn 1764. 4to.

Becket. In this dialogue, Agriculture and Commerce, in rhymes frequently uncouth and seldom perfpicuous, find fault with each other, apparently to no purpose.

Art. 28. Rodogune, or the Rival Brothers, a Tragedy. Done

from the French of M. Corneille. 8vo. Is. 6d. Dodsley.

This is a very indifferent translation of a very excellent tragedy of Corneille's, The Translator's name, as appears from the preface, is Alpinwall,

Art. 29.

/

Art. 29. The Angel and Curate, a Poem. By Nathaniel Weekes.

4to.

IS. Coote.
The Author of this poem calls it the production of impetuous Ge-
NIUS; but Dullness too is sometimes impetuous, and to have given it
to the right parent would both have been more modest, and more just.
Art. 30. The Temple Student. An Epistle to a friend. 4to. Is.

Dodsley.
Mr. Skeate, Author of The Alps, a beautiful descriptive poem ;

of An Epifle from Lady Jane Gray .. Lord Guildford Dudley; and of a curious Account of the Republic of Geneva, has here tried his muse in a loofer species of poetry: in which he humorously attacks the ftudy and profession of the law. It is an entertaining piece ; although it may not be deemed so favourable a specimen of the Author's poetical abilities, as the Alps, or even as his Ruins of Netley-Abbey: for the first, see Reo view, Vol. XXVIII. p. 376; for the second, Vol. XXIX. p. 322 ; and for his Account of Geneva, see Vol. XXIV,

p. 205.

NO V E L s.
Art. 31, The Fruit-shop, a Tale. 12mo. 2 Vols.

5 S.

Moran. One of the numerous and worthless imitations of Shandy,- totally del titute of the eafy art and happy nature * of the original: copying the incoherency and obscenity of Sterne, without his ingenuity or his wit. May we not say of Sterne, what Pope has said of Voiture

His easy art, may happy nature seem;

Trifles themselves are elegant in him.
Art. 32. The Generous Briton; or the authentic Memoirs of William

Goldsmith, Esq; 12mo. 6s. Henderson.
A decent, sober, and truly moral ttory, of an amiable young gentle-
man, an orphan, who was generously taken care of, excellently edu-
cated, and munificently provided for, by a most worthy, benevolent
gentleman of Caermarthenshire, in Wales. The work is not a master-
piece of writing ; but it abounds with interesting tales, and affeaing
kenca, and it presents, us also with a variety of exemplary characters :
not, Indeed, such as we usually meet with in real life,
ever, as we thould wish to meet with. The whole is intended for the
Improvement as well as entertainment of the rising generation ; which
feems, indeed, to be a favourite point with the Author: as his readers
may conclude, before they have perused more than his title-page, from
bis very proper

fuch See

Art. 33. Chrysal: or, the Adventures of a Guinea, &c. &c. Vols.

III. and IV. 12mo. 6s. Becket and De Hondt. What we have already said of the two former volumes of this work, may serve for an idea of those now before us ; the same scheme being continued; and the time since elapsed, furnishing plenty of the same fort of characters, for the bountiful itigma of an author who seems to take peculiar delight in the exercife of the branding iron.

• See Review, Vol. XXIII. p. 157.

Art. 34. The History of the Marquis de Crefly. Translated from

the French. Small 8vo. 2 s. 6d. Becket. Knowing as our booksellers and publishers are generally supposed to be, the Knowing ones are sometimes taken in. They do not always recollect what books are translated from foreign languages; and the induftry of hackney translators sometimes imposes on the ignorance of our literary Merchants, dealers, and chapmen. Manuscripts are brought

market, the goods pass for neat and genuine, and the purchaser imagines he has bought a new commodity; when, upon farther examination, behold ! it is second-hand, ftale, or thread-bare. To some fuch kind of dealing as this, it was owing, probably, that the History of the Marquis de Creslý is now printed and published as a new book, although it before appeared in an English dress, and was unsuccessfully offered to the acceptance of the public, in the year 1759. See Rev. Vol. XX. p. 467.

A D D E N D A.

POLITICA L. Art: 35. A Letter to the Earl of B~, relative to the late Changes that have happened in the Administration.

8vo. Is. Richard. fon and Urquhart.

A keen invective against the northern Earl, in the form of an ex. poftulatory address to his Lordship; maliciously setting in view before him, the 'alledged malefactions of his minifteriál conduct. The Writer does not appear to possess an uncommon knowlege of facts, or great literary abilities, or even to be very fcrupulous in point of good manners. -If the unpopular favourite deserves the resentment of his country, let him feel it, but let him feel it in a manner becoming both his country's dignity, and the honour of his own rank. Let him, as the poet hath it, be carved out a dish fit for the Gods;_not hack'd and mangld like a carcase for the hounds. Art. 36. A port, seasonable, plain Address from an old Man to the

good People of England, on their present critical Situation. 8vo. 6d. Wilkie. It having been currently infinuated that, with respect to the new ad. miniftration, we are fill in the fame fituation as before; having only